Abstract: An image forming apparatus including multiple image forming units; a waste-toner container; and a waste-toner conveyance device including a common conveyance channel member disposed in an arrangement direction of the image forming units and provided with toner inlets to receive the waste toner from toner outlets of the cleaning units, communicating channel members identical in structure and respectively disposed between the toner outlets and the toner inlets of the common conveyance channel member, and a rotatable conveying member to transport the waste toner inside the common conveyance channel member linearly along a rotation axis thereof. The common conveyance channel member is shaped to equalize relative positions of each of the toner outlets and a corresponding one of the toner inlets of the common conveyance channel member among the multiple image forming units among which a distance from the toner outlet to the rotation axis differs.

Abstract: A powder transport device includes a first transport tube through which powder falls under gravity; a second transport tube having a transport member that transports the powder in a substantially horizontal direction; and a joint section having a ceiling, opposed side walls, an upstream wall, and a downstream wall. The joint section defines a first drop region, defined by the downstream wall and the side walls, continuous with and positioned directly under the first transport tube, to drop the powder dropped from the first transport tube; and a second drop region, defined by the ceiling, the upstream wall, and the side walls, displaced relative to and continuous with the first drop region, positioned adjacent to the second transport tube, to drop the powder transported from the second transport tube upstream from the first drop region in the direction in which the powder is transported through the second transport tube.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a blade, a screw, a toner crushing member, and a casing. The toner crushing member is located in contact with the screw. The toner crushing member is provided in association with the screw and configured to crush toner accumulated between the screw and the blade, by being swung by the screw rotating. The casing houses the screw and the toner crushing member. The screw rotates in the direction reverse to the rotational direction of the photoreceptor drum. The toner crushing member is configured having a first part and a second part, with a base-end side of the first part being secured to the casing, and the second part being folded back along a distal-end side of the first part, such that a distal-end side of the second part swings between the blade and the screw, in association with the rotation of the screw.

Abstract: A cleaning device, which is included in a process cartridge or an image forming apparatus, includes a cleaning member including a brush rotary body that is disposed in contact with an image carrier provided in an image forming apparatus and that removes toner on the image carrier and holds the toner thereon, a toner conveying rotary body to collect and convey the toner removed by the cleaning member, a flicker contacting the cleaning member to flick off the toner held on the cleaning member, and an agitator that has a free end contacting the toner conveying rotary body and vibrating due to rotation of the toner conveying rotary body. The agitator further has a trajectory being formed between the opening and the toner conveying rotary body by movement of the free end. Alternatively, the free end of the agitator is disposed facing the flicker.

Abstract: A collection device including: an accommodation part configured to accommodate therein collected adhering substance; and a detection part configured to detect an amount of the adhering substance in the accommodation part and including, a moving member configured to move from a first position to a second position, the accommodation part being capable of accommodating therein the adhering substance when the moving member is arranged at the first position and being full of the adhering substance when the moving member is in the second position, and a restraining member configured to restrain the moving member from moving from the first position to the second position when the moving member is arranged at the first position, and restrain the moving member from moving from the second position to the first position when the moving member is arranged at the second position.

Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a cleaning member, a storage case, and a transport member. The cleaning member collects waste toner on a surface of the photoconductive drum. The storage case successively stores the waste toner collected by the cleaning member through an inlet. The transport member is provided in the storage case, and rotates to transport the waste toner in the storage case in a rotary axis direction. The transport member rotates with a central portion in the rotary axis direction protruding toward the inlet further than both side portions.

Abstract: A process unit has an image carrying unit having an image carrying member configured to be rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction, and a developing agent removing member, a developing unit having a developing agent carrying member configured to be rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis, and a waste developing agent collecting unit configured to collect the developing agent removed by the removing member from the image carrying member. The waste developing agent collecting unit is arranged on one side in the first direction with respect to the developing unit such that the waste developing agent collecting unit faces the developing unit, and the developing unit is connected to the waste developing agent collecting unit such that the developing unit being movable in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the waste developing agent collecting unit.

Abstract: A developer conveying device includes a rotatable developer conveying body including a shaft portion and a blade portion provided on the shaft portion for conveying a developer. The developer conveying device further includes a developer removing portion having a developer removing fin that contacts the developer conveying body in a counter direction with respect to a rotating direction of the developer conveying body.

Abstract: A photosensitive drum is rotatably supported in a main body. A developing cartridge is detachably mountable on the main body in a state where the photosensitive drum is supported in the main body. The developing cartridge includes a developing device and a frame. The developing device includes a developing roller disposed in confrontation with the photosensitive drum to supply developer to the photosensitive drum when the developing cartridge is mounted in the main body, and a developer-accommodating portion configured to accommodate developer. The frame includes a waste-developer-accommodating portion configured to accommodate waste developer and supports the developing device that is movable relative to the frame. The frame is disposed on an opposite side of the developing roller from the photosensitive drum. An urging member is disposed between the frame and the developing device to urge the developing roller toward the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: an upstream side unit which discharges a conveyed developer from a discharge port; a downstream side unit which receives the developer discharged from the discharge port from a receiving port located at a position opposite to the discharge port; and a sealing member which includes a multiple layer with an elastic member and a sheet material alternately stacked and is nipped between the upstream side unit and the downstream side unit to seal a periphery of the discharge port and the receiving port, wherein at least one of the upstream side unit and the downstream side unit is detachably attachable to an apparatus body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear a toner image, a waste toner storage mechanism to store residual toner, and an intermediate transfer unit detachable from the image forming apparatus. The intermediate transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer member onto which the toner image is transferred, a cleaning device to remove residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member after the toner image is transferred to a recording medium, and a connecting mechanism to connect the cleaning device and the waste toner storage mechanism. The connecting mechanism includes a movable connecting tube and a moving device to move the connecting tube between a first position at which the connecting tube engages the cleaning device and the waste toner storage mechanism, and the second position at which the connecting tube separates the cleaning device from the waste toner storage mechanism.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting structure of an image forming apparatus includes a waste toner collector to be removably installed in a main body of an image forming apparatus to collect waste toner that is exhausted through exhaust holes of at least one waste toner exhaust parts installed in the main body a negative pressure generator to form negative pressure around shutters of the waste toner exhaust parts that open and close the exhaust holes, to form an intake air current into the waste toner collector and a waste toner separator to be connected to the waste toner collector to separate some of the waste toner, which flows into the waste toner collector and then moves toward the negative pressure generator, from air in order to collect the waste toner.

Abstract: In an image-forming device, a recovering unit removes waste developer material to be discarded from a target and collects the waste developer material. A waste developer material accommodating part is provided integrally with the developer material accommodating part and accommodates waste developer material collected by the recovering unit. A waste developer material conveying mechanism is connected to both of the recovering unit and the waste developer material accommodating part and conveys the waste developer material from the recovering unit to the waste developer material accommodating part. An urging member is interposed between the waste developer material accommodating part and the waste developer material conveying mechanism and urges a developing roller toward a photosensitive drum via a developer material accommodating part.

Abstract: A plurality of waste toner transport mechanisms convey waste toners per color. A waste toner container receives collectively each waste toner conveyed by each waste toner transport mechanism. An integrated number of pixels memory stores a result of an integration of the numbers of the pixels per color of the image data counted by the pixel counters after the near end detection has been made by the near end detector, the integration being carried out by an integrating number of pixels section each time an image forming is performed. A full end judgment section makes a judgment that full end, at which a quantity of the waste toner in the waste toner container reaches fullness, is attained when any one of the integrated numbers of pixels per color stored by the integrated number of pixels memory reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: A toner conveying path forming member forms a toner conveying path with a hollow capable of conveying toner. The toner conveying path forming member includes an inner wall a part of which is pressed by an elastic toner conveying member provided in the toner conveying path; and a protrusion that is provided on an inner wall surface of at least a part of the inner wall to protrude toward the hollow.

Abstract: A developer container includes a casing having a developer accommodating chamber and a waste-developer accommodating chamber, conveying member, a conveying-member accommodating unit, and a supporting member. The conveying member conveys waste developer in a longitudinal direction of the waste-developer accommodating chamber. The conveying-member accommodating unit accommodates the conveying member therein and has a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is provided in an upstream end portion and allows the waste developer to move from outside of the conveying-member accommodating unit to the inside of the conveying-member accommodating unit. The second opening allows the waste-developer to move from the inside of the conveying-member accommodating unit to the waste-developer accommodating chamber. The supporting member is provided on the casing.

Abstract: The intermediate transfer belt cleaning device includes a cleaning blade for removing residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt, a waste toner conveying screw that conveys the removed toner, and a vibrating part with multiple vanes, arranged between the cleaning blade and the waste toner conveying screw, each vane partly coming into contact with the waste toner conveying screw and vibrating in linkage with the motion of the waste toner conveying screw. Each vane has a projected part that is positioned close to, and projects toward, the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reducing a space required to install a transfer unit to achieve a compact body size. The image forming apparatus can include a body, a frame installed in the body, a transfer unit installed inside the frame, and a waste toner recovery device to recover waste toner collected from the transfer unit. The waste toner recovery device can include a first delivery unit to deliver the waste toner in a first direction, and a second delivery unit to deliver the waste toner, delivered from the first delivery unit, in a second direction. The second delivery unit can be movably installed to the frame and can be coupled to or detached from the first delivery unit via movement thereof.

Abstract: In an image-forming device, a waste developer material accommodating part is provided integrally with a developer material accommodating part and is configured to accommodate waste developer material collected by a recovering unit. A waste developer material conveying mechanism is connected to both of the recovering unit and the waste developer material accommodating part and conveys the waste developer material from the recovering unit to the waste developer material accommodating part. The waste developer material conveying mechanism includes a conveying member that is disposed outside the waste developer material accommodating part and that is coupled to a center region of the waste developer material accommodating part along an axial direction of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a main body, a belt unit configured to accommodate a belt, a belt cleaning member and an accommodating unit. The belt cleaning unit is configured to remove waste toner adhered on the belt. The accommodating unit is configured to accommodate the toner removed by the belt cleaning unit. The apparatus further includes a drum unit having a drum cleaning member, and a waste toner conveying mechanism configured to convey the waste toner to the collecting unit. The conveying mechanism has a drum-side conveying unit configured to be connected with the drum cleaning member. Communication between the drum-side conveying unit and the collecting unit is enabled in association with movement of the drum unit from the outside position to the inside position, and disabled in association with movement of the drum unit from the inside position to the outside position.

Abstract: In an image-forming device, photosensitive drums are held by the holding member. Developer material accommodating parts are held by the holding member to form a row of developer material accommodating parts in a prescribed direction. An endless belt extends in the prescribed direction. A recovering unit removes, from the belt, waste developer material and collects the waste developer material. A waste developer material conveying mechanism conveys the waste developer material from the recovering unit to a waste developer material accommodating part. The waste developer material accommodating part is disposed on an upstream side of a most upstream developer material accommodating part in the row of the developer material accommodating parts in the prescribed direction, and accommodates the waste developer material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a body frame accommodating an image forming unit; and a support frame supporting an image reading unit and disposed to confront the body frame in a confronting direction, the support frame having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to each other in a first direction perpendicular to the confronting direction. The support frame includes: first and second engaging portions provided at the first and second end portions respectively; and a pair of grip portions. The body frame has a first edge portion and a second edge portion opposite to each other in the first direction, the body frame including: a first engaged portion provided at the first edge portion and engageable with the first engaging portion; and a second engaged portion provided at the second edge portion and engageable with the second engaging portion.

Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a cleaning member eliminating a waste toner from an image carrier, a waste toner conveying body conveying the waste toner in a conveying channel to a waste toner case, a shutter having an ejecting port and a shutter moving mechanism moving the shutter between an opening position and a closing position. Via the ejecting port, the conveying channel and waste toner case are communicated. The shutter contacts with/separates from a seal preventing a leak of the waste toner from the ejecting port. When the shutter is rotated in one direction and moved to the opening position to make an outer end face of the shutter contact with the seal, the ejecting port is opened. When the shutter is rotated in another direction and moved to the closing position to make the outer end face of the shutter separate from the seal, the ejecting port is closed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a toner-image forming unit, a transfer unit, a cleaner, a plurality of cylindrical transport path forming members, a falling transport path forming member, and a discharge port. The falling transport path forming member has through holes in a side wall thereof. A second end of each of the transport path forming members is inserted into a corresponding one of the through holes. The falling transport path forming member forms a falling transport path that causes toner ejected from an ejection port disposed in the second end to fall. The discharge port is disposed in a lower part of the falling transport path forming member to discharge the toner to a discharge destination. The second ends of the transport path forming members are disposed offset from each other in a horizontal direction on the side wall of the falling transport path forming member.

Abstract: A toner transporting device includes a screw that includes a spiral fin wound around a shaft portion and transports toner in the axial direction, and a toner crushing member that is disposed along the transport direction of the toner and crushes accumulated toner, wherein the toner crushing member includes a base portion that extends along the shaft portion of the screw, and a flexible plate member which is disposed at a position in which the flexible plate member bumps into and contacts the fin, and in which the downstream side in the transport direction of the toner in the screw is fixed to the base portion and the upstream side is separated from the base portion.

Abstract: A developer-adhesive body unit is detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus. The developer-adhesive body unit includes a developer-adhesive body having a surface to which a developer adheres, a cleaning member that removes the developer from the surface of the developer-adhesive body, a developer storage portion storing the removed developer, and a contact portion contacting the surface of the developer-adhesive body at an upstream side of the cleaning member in a moving direction of the surface of the developer-adhesive body. A contact-and-separation unit causes the surface of the developer-adhesive body and the contact portion to separate from each other when the developer-adhesive body unit is mounted to the image forming apparatus and the surface of the developer-adhesive body moves. The contact-and-separation unit causes the surface of the developer-adhesive body and the contact portion to contact each other when the developer-adhesive body unit is not mounted to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A waste-developer collecting device includes a developing device that develops a latent image with developer, a storage section that stores the developer transported from the developing device, and a path section extending from the developing device to the storage section, and including a downward path through which the developer in the developing device flows together with air in the developing device, the downward path guiding the flowing developer downward. An opening is provided on an upper side and an upstream side of a lowermost level of the downward path so that a part of the air flowing in the path section is released out through the opening.

Abstract: A developer collecting device includes a housing in which an opening disposed opposite to a developer holding member is formed, a collection member that is disposed to be capable of coming in contact with and being separated from the developer holding member and that detaches the developer and collects the detached developer in the housing, a sealing member that is disposed to be capable of coming in contact with and being separated from the developer holding member and that seals up a gap between the developer holding member and the housing, a suction passage to which a suction unit suctioning the developer into the housing is connected, a developer transport unit that transports the developer to one end of the housing, and a filtration member that is tilted so that at least an upper part thereof overlaps with the upside of the developer transport unit in a plan view.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus using electrophotography includes a waste toner container and an accommodation unit. The waste toner container collects developer used for forming images and ejected from an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus as waste toner. The accommodation unit detachably accommodates the waste toner container in the image forming apparatus. The accommodation unit includes a reduction device to reduce a force required for withdrawing the waste toner container from an interior to an exterior of the image forming apparatus. The reduction device contacts a bottom face of the waste toner container when the waste toner container is partially withdrawn from a fully mounted position of the waste toner container in the accommodation unit to the exterior of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first developer containing part accommodating a developer that is ejected after a depeloper image is formed, a second developer containing part, a communication part allowing the first developer containing part and the second developer containing part to communicate each other, and a first developer carrying member carrying the developer to the first developer containing part to the communication part. Wherein, the communication part carries the developer carried by the first developer carrying member to the second developer containing part.

Abstract: A toner container removably installed into an image forming apparatus body. The toner container includes a pouch member that contains a new toner therein and can be turned inside out, and a cover member that covers an outside of the pouch member and includes an inlet through which a waste toner flows in, the inlet being formed opposite to a side of the cover member from which the new toner contained in the pouch member is discharged. After the new toner contained in the pouch member is discharged, the pouch member is turned inside out, and the waste toner flows from the inlet into the pouch member.

Abstract: A toner conveyor includes a noncircular conveyance member rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation to convey toner to a toner container and a plate-shaped metal scraper slidably contacting the conveyance member with predetermined pressure therebetween to scrape the toner off the conveyance member. The scraper includes a contact end contacting the conveyance member, at least one through-hole spaced apart from the contact end, and a toner carrying face contacting the toner accumulated in the toner container. A lid is attached to the toner carrying face of the scraper to cover the at least one through-hole of the scraper and includes a separation region extending from an upper edge thereof to at least a position disposed opposite a lower edge of the at least one through-hole in a short direction of the scraper. The separation region is separatable from the scraper.

Abstract: Provided is a toner recovery device including a toner recovery path, a vibration exciter that applies vibration to the toner recovery path, a detector that detects vibration of the toner recovery path, a determining unit that determines whether characteristics based on the vibration detected by the detector have reached predetermined reference vibration characteristics, and an output unit that outputs the result of the determination by the determining unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a developer transport device including a recovery chamber where a developer is recovered, an accommodation chamber that accommodates the developer, a transport unit that transports the developer into the accommodation chamber by rotation, a hollow guiding path that guides the developer in the recovery chamber into the accommodation chamber, and a transport assisting member disposed inside the hollow guiding path and deformed and restored by rotation of the transport unit to assist transport of the developer. The transport assisting member includes a first part extending along an inner wall of the hollow guiding path from a discharge port of the recovery chamber to a position for contact with the transport unit, and a second part intersecting with a front surface of the first part and extending from an intermediate position of the first part to a position for contact with the transport unit.

Abstract: In an image-forming device, a waste developer material accommodating part is provided integrally with a developer material accommodating part. A waste developer material conveying mechanism is connected to both of a recovering unit and the waste developer material accommodating part and conveys the waste developer material from the recovering unit to the waste developer material accommodating part. The waste developer material conveying mechanism includes a conveying member that is disposed outside the waste developer material accommodating part, that extends in an axial direction of a photosensitive drum, and that is coupled to the waste developer material accommodating part while being movable relative to the waste developer material accommodating part.

Abstract: There is provided a cleaning device for removing residual toner on an image carrier. The cleaning device includes a housing to cover a specified region of an image carrier. A first cleaning section and a second cleaning section are respectively placed in upper and lower parts of the housing partitioned by a partition member. The first cleaning section includes a first cleaning brush and a first regulating member. The second cleaning section includes a second cleaning brush and a second regulating member. The partition member substantially extends in a continuous manner with respect to a horizontal direction from the specified region to at least a position equivalent to an end portion on a housing sidewall side of the first or the second regulating member. A clearance exists between the housing sidewall and an end portion on the housing sidewall side of the partition member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing; a partition wall which is provided in the housing along a substantially vertical direction, the partition wall partitioning an inner space of the housing into a first space and a second space; developing units which are disposed in parallel along the substantially vertical direction in the first space, each of the developing units comprising a first reception opening and a return opening; and developer cartridges which correspond to the plurality of developing units, the developer cartridges being disposed in parallel along the substantially vertical direction in the second space, each of developer cartridges comprising a supply opening and a second reception opening. The first reception openings of the developing units communicate with the supply openings of respective ones of the developer cartridges, and the return openings of the developer units communicate with the second reception openings of respective ones of the developer cartridges.

Abstract: In an image-forming device, photosensitive drums are held by the holding member. Developer material accommodating units are held by the holding member so as to form a row of developer material accommodating units along an alignment direction, the developer material accommodating units including one end developer material accommodating unit that is located at one end of the row of developer material accommodating units. An endless belt extends in the alignment direction. A waste developer material accommodating part is provided integrally with the one end developer material accommodating part. A waste developer material conveying mechanism conveys waste developer material from a recovering unit to the waste developer material accommodating part. The holding member includes: a first side plate and a second side plate; and a first beam and a second beam, at least part of a waste developer material conveying mechanism being provided on the first beam.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus wherein a developing unit forms a toner image on an image carrier by using a developer including a toner and a carrier, wherein a toner recovery unit recovers the toner remaining on the image carrier after the transfer of the toner image to a transfer receiving body and wherein the recovered toner is returned to the developing unit by a return transport mechanism, a recovered toner reservoir for storing the toner recovered by the toner recovery unit is disposed independently from the return transport mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a belt cleaning unit; a waste toner container; a conveying unit; and a support member. The cleaning unit collects waste toner adhered to a belt. The container stores the waste toner collected by the cleaning unit. The conveying unit conveys the waste toner from the cleaning unit to the container. The support member moves between an internal position inside the main casing and an external position outside the main casing. The support member in the internal position moves between a contact position where the photosensitive body contacts the belt and a separated position where the photosensitive body separates from the belt. The conveying unit moves along with the support member moving between the contact position and the separated position. The conveying unit is uncoupled from the container while the support member moves from the internal position to the external position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a casing; a belt unit including a first roller, a second roller positioned higher than the first roller and a belt; image bearing members; developer containers; a removing member; an accommodating member; and a conveying member. The image bearing members includes a first image bearing member and a second image bearing member. The removing member is positioned adjacent to the second image bearing member and below an imaginary plane. The accommodating member accommodates the waste toner removed by the removing member, and is positioned adjacent to the first image bearing member and above the imaginary plane. The accommodating member is mounted in and removed from the casing along with a first developer container corresponding to the first image bearing member. The conveying member conveys the waste toner removed by the removing member to the accommodating member.

Abstract: A waste toner recovery unit includes a waste toner conveying screw, a coating member, and a waste toner storing portion. The waste toner conveying screw has a first end and a second end and conveys waste toner, the first end being linked with a driving portion and the second end being set as a free end. The coating member coats the free end of the waste toner conveying screw by being fitted in a processing unit, has an opening to which waste toner conveyed by the waste toner conveying screw falls down, and can rotate in such a way that the opening is positioned in a vertically lower part. The waste toner storing portion stores the waste toner which falls down from the opening.

Abstract: A waste toner conveying device for conveying waste toner removed from an image carrier to a waste toner container includes a waste toner conveying path including at least a falling and conveying path for letting the waste toner fall under its own weight; a toner bridging prevention member configured to move in the falling and conveying path to prevent bridging of the waste toner; a drive source configured to drive the toner bridging prevention member; a drive transfer member configured to transfer a driving force from the drive source to the toner bridging prevention member; and a toner adhesion prevention member configured to prevent the waste toner from adhering to the drive transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt including a first plane and a second plane, a waste toner container, a first feeding path extending between a first feed roller and a secondary-transfer roller, a second feeding path being a path for a recording sheet inserted through a sheet inlet, a second feed roller arranged in an overlapping position to at least partially overlap with the waste toner container when viewed along a horizontal plane and in a position out of a course of the waste toner container being installed in and removed from the chassis. The second plane of the intermediate transfer belt extends downwardly in an inclined angle with respect to the first plane. The waste toner container is movable along the second plane of the intermediate transfer belt to be settled in the chassis.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming portion, toner-disposal container, conveying portion, driving portion, load detection portion, image formation control portion, and image forming condition adjustment portion. The image forming condition adjustment portion corrects, when image forming condition does not conform to predetermined condition, the image forming condition. In a case where a drive load detected by the load detection portion becomes greater than first threshold value while the conveying portion is driven by the driving portion and the image forming operation is executed, the image formation control portion temporarily stops the image forming operation, and causes the image forming condition adjustment portion to check and correct the image forming condition.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor for sensing amount of waste toner in a waste toner box of an imaging apparatus includes a capacitor that has a pair of separated plates disposed within the interior of the waste toner box. The capacitance of the capacitor changes with the amount of toner in between the plates of the capacitor. A sensor circuitry is connected to the plates of the waste toner box that measure the capacitance of the capacitor as a voltage value. This voltage value is provided to a controller that determines a relative change in the capacitance value by determining a change in capacitance of the capacitor with respect to a number of pages printed by the imaging apparatus. The controller then determines the state of the waste toner box based on this relative change in capacitance.

Abstract: A cleaning device for an image forming apparatus includes a cleaning member that removes residual developer that remains on a image carrier, a rotary conveying member that conveys the removed residual developer toward a predetermined direction, and a housing that contains the rotary conveying member. The housing includes a support member that supports the cleaning member; and a protective member that has an inner wall which opposes outer periphery of the rotary conveying member and partially covers the rotary conveying member. The protective member is made of a resin molding material to which a filler is not added.

Abstract: An image forming device, including: photosensitive bodies arranged in parallel in a predetermined direction; a belt that runs in the predetermined direction to transfer a developer image formed on each of the photosensitive bodies to a sheet-like medium; recovering members that are respectively provided for the photosensitive bodies, wherein each recovering member recovers adhered substances adhered to each photosensitive body after the developer image was transferred to the sheet-like medium; a belt cleaner that removes the adhered substances adhered to the belt; a cleaning process execution unit that executes a cleaning process in which the adhered substances are transferred from each recovering member to the belt via each photosensitive body; and a cleaning time determination unit that determines a time period for which the cleaning process is executed, based on a color of the image formed on the sheet-like medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaning device that collects a waste toner attached to the surface of the image carrier using a cleaning member, a waste container that is removable from an image forming apparatus body, a temporary storage unit that is provided in the image forming apparatus body to temporarily store a waste including the waste toner collected in the cleaning device before the waste is transported to the waste container, and a waste transport unit that transports the waste to the temporary storage unit, wherein a discharge speed of the waste from the temporary storage unit by the waste discharge unit is lower than a transport speed of the waste to the temporary storage unit by the waste transport unit.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a cartridge; a supporting member; a belt unit; a waste toner storage member; and a conveying member. The cartridge is configured to retain a photosensitive body. The belt unit includes a belt; and a cleaning member. The cleaning member removes residual toner remaining on the belt. The waste toner storage member stores the residual toner. The belt unit is movable between a contact position in which the belt contacts the photosensitive body and a separated position in which the belt is separated from the photosensitive body. The conveying member allows the residual toner to be conveyed from the cleaning member to the waste toner storage member when the belt unit is in the contact position, and interrupts the residual toner from being conveyed from the cleaning member to the waste toner storage member when the belt unit is in the separated position.